Microdialysis in investigation of adipose tissue metabolism

Microdialysis--a technique available since more than two decades--has been recently applied in investigation of metabolism of adipose tissue in humans. The technique enables a continuous sampling of metabolites and other small molecules in the extracellular space of subcutaneous adipose tissue and it enables a local exposure of adipose tissue to metabolically active agents. The method has been used to determine the interstitial concentrations of metabolites (glycerol, glucose, lactate etc.) in adipose tissue and to investigate the regulation of lipolysis and of carbohydrate metabolism in situ in subcutaneous adipose tissue. The method has been widely used in clinical research of adipose tissue and it is supposed to be used for continuous monitoring of metabolites in clinical practice.